BLOG - Friday, December 21, 2018

Posted by
Ken Warkentin
on
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 9:41 PM

RACE 1

1-Tuonoblu Rex – 1:51 performer last year was able to put it all together in a decisive wire-to-wire score in his third start off the bench, moves to rail to lead a solid entry in this competitive opener

2-Mr Houdini – Heads a strong Team Burke entry fresh off an easy romp @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, both halves draw outside, yet figure to make noise based on recent form

8-Melady’s Monet – Unleashed a sterling rally to score as the heavy favorite fresh from a five-month layoff & with trotting hopples off, millionaire horse-for-the-course builds on that from another demanding post

RACE 2

3-Dewey Hava Winner – Flashed some sneaky late trot from an impossible spot in his debut here last week, draws a bit better & has a chance to surprise this wide-open field

5-Godspell Hall – 3YO gelding repeated in style with a new mark of 1:55.4 in his first start for Nifty Norman, then broke as the heavy favorite & has waited 20 days for the rebound attempt

2-Lucky Sheila – This filly finished a solid second again from post nine, has acclimated well, now moves inside to secure a stalking trip in a field with no standouts

RACE 3

4-Reclamation – Team Burke-tuned filly imported from Ireland qualified in :25.4 against Zero Tolerance, then blew them away back-to-back @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws well to tap further into her potential

9-Delightful Feather – Impressive filly on a form spree for the Cancelliere brothers, won three of her last four here & fresh off a post seven score @ Harrah’s Philadelphia

2-Hot Summer Knight – Stone closer with a history of success here picked up minor spoils in his second start off a double sick scratch, drops a notch & draws inside again

3-Celebrity Lover – Came up just a half length shy last out, draws well to work out another ideal stalking trip in a wide-open field

4-Lindy’s Best Yet – Fresh off a well-driven upset, while equaling his lifetime mark third time Lasix, poised to step up a notch from a slightly better post

RACE 5

6-Zlatan – Gelding with a strong number in the win column has been knocking on the door, solid runner up two starts back, just missed in :27.2 last week & drops a notch

4-Uhlan Noir – 10YO sharpened his sword in his last two with a close third, then grinded out a game second to If Not Why Not from post ten, moves inside to take the step up in class

8-If Not Why Not – Dropped & brushed n crushed them with a career best 1:53 last week, 3YO on the rise gets a test for class from a challenging post in a competitive field

RACE 6

7-Penpal – 5YO gifted with a blinding late brush has been repeatedly stuck in never-never land, gets class relief & this horse-for-the-course can blow past these if given a fair chance

1-OK Heavenly – Drops back down to the level of the 18-1 upset from post 8 back on 11-16, was on the move too late last week & now has a chance to stalk from the rail

2-Gemma’s Beach Girl – This mare has been ramping up her game on the comeback trail, ships back fresh off a confidence-building win @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside for the highly productive Cancelliere brothers

RACE 7

7-Trolley – Comeback story from a broken coffin bone continues going for four straight wins & freshened with a couple of weeks off for Team Miller

8-Muscle Diamond – 1:50.1 winner here this season has reeled off four in a row, his latest in grinding style, hasn’t raced in 35 days & tackles an outside assignment

4-Thisguyisonfire – Rallied for second to Trolley two starts back, then scored another win @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws well to stalk the standouts in this affair

RACE 8

6-Brazuca – Has continued to be razor sharp since the recent sick scratch, tripped out to prevail @ Harrah’s Philadelphia fresh off two close seconds here, dangerous stalking type for the red-hot Cancelliere brothers

7-Fancy Creek Joline – Regained her winning edge against lesser on 11-30, then romped from post ten & rallied stoutly for the place money last week

9-Stylish Beachwhere – Just three for 31 this season & draws outside, but has had two starts to acclimate & has the gate speed & class to overcome post nine

RACE 9

6-Arch Credit – Tripped out with a new mark of 1:54 two starts back, then just missed with trot at both ends from post nine, 4YO has come to hand since the barn change to Chris Marino

7-Miss Ruby – Regained her winning form with the mile of her life in her fourth start off a sick scratch, rock solid mare rates top contender status despite the challenging post

8-Armagedon Seelster – Failed to fire first time Lasix after taking a new mark of 1:56, 3YO gelding tackles a tougher post here, but can leave & step it up on the mile track

RACE 10

3-Itsnoproblemman – Just two for 31 this season, yet his recent form has been solid, he drops a notch & draws post three again to stalk the speed

5-Mccito – Bottomed them out & held them off here two starts back, steady gelding returns off a solid second & retains Yannick Gingras

2-Pumped Up Kicks – Only two for 42 in 2018, but has cranked it up with two straight on-the-board finishes, just missed in a G Notes Final from post eight fresh off the claim & moves inside

RACE 11

8-Filly Forty Seven – Runner up to a standout winner Ella Christina in a much-needed acclimating mile last week, tougher post, but expected to show more second time Lasix

3-D Gs Elsa – Took full advantage of some class relief & rail with a wire-to-wire score two starts back, matches up well & draws inside here to show up a camera-shy field

6-Deuces For Charity – Only two for 37 this season, yet her recent form has been okay @ Yonkers & this is a class relief scenario

RACE 12

6-Delcrest Holiday – Team Burke-tuned 3YO cruised to a new mark of 1:52.2 with a perfect trip two starts back, beaten favorite gave way despite a well-rated effort from post eight, this is a more likely match up

5-Inaperfectworld – Chased a runaway winner stepping up to N/W 5 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia last out, won three of his previous four there & lands an ideal midpack post to set up his preferred stalking trip

4-Derf Hanover – Overcame post seven with a perfect pocket trip two starts back, beaten favorite at Harrah’s Philadelphia draws well to be a threat for a dangerous barn

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KenWarkentin

Ken Warkentin has been a member of the award-winning broadcast team at Meadowlands Racetrack as the Track Announcer and television commentator for 25 years. Ken has appeared on national television networks such as ESPN, called 15 editions of the $1 million Hambletonian, and worked as a member of the broadcast team for NBC Sports and CBS Sports.